Maynard Iverson Memorial Sermon
Sermon series:
We are here on this beautiful summer morning to give thanks for the life and ministry of one of God’s great saints, and our good friend and pastor, Maynard Iverson, husband to Eline, father to Kathy, Brad and Roger, stepfather to Paul, Carol Ann, and Brad, grandfather, great-grandfather, and again, friend to all who are here...
Maynard died in the fullness of his years: he celebrated his 90th birthday with us last August, but still there is some measure of sadness. When someone who is much loved dies, there is mourning and there is grief.
Eline, you have walked this path before, and it hurts badly. You and Maynard had such a wonderful relationship; it was a delight to watch the two of you together. Maynard shared with me the joy he found in you, something he thought he would never see again after Cece died. But the two of you shared something extraordinary. You gave life to each other, and it aches to know that it is over...
Kathy, Jim, Brad, Sally, (I mention spouses because when you married into Maynard’s family, you became family- Paul, Pam, Carol Ann, Steve, Brad and Kristin, you must have known that, too) your dad has died... The one who has been there your whole lives- who has loved you, supported you, no longer can be, and there is grieving; there is mourning. It feels sometimes like parents are immortal, even though we know that can’t be true. You are orphans now-you are the next generation, and that is a new and unsettling thing in the midst of your grief...
Grandkids, you know how much your grandfather loved you-paid attention to what you were doing, wanted to know what was going on in your lives, and you will miss him, too...
Indeed, all of us here are united in our sense of loss and grief...But I started by saying this is a day of celebration, and I meant it. There is much so very much for which we can give thanks today...
First, we can give thanks that Maynard’s struggle is over and he is at peace. The last months were not kind to him. He battled with a mind and body that would not do- could not do what he wanted them to. But that is over now, and he is at peace, and for that we can all be grateful...
Then there is the matter of an extraordinary life, a life well lived in the service of God and neighbor... From the start, it was apparent that Maynard was gifted in leadership and oratory...And he answered God’s call to the ordained ministry, and used those skills to proclaim the Good News of his Savior- our Savior- in nearly every setting in which a pastor could find him or herself. Maynard served in North Dakota, as a youth pastor at our sister congregation, Central Lutheran (I learned that a good number of young folks originally from Central who had moved to southwest Minneapolis connected with Bethlehem when they learned Maynard had moved back to the Cities...). From Central, he and Cece were called to the Great Plains of Montana- Great Falls- before being called to Bethlehem in 1951...
Maynard was an incredibly gifted preacher. Those of us following a generation behind called people like Maynard “silver tongues...” And they could read the phone book out loud and people would say, “Yes, give me more!” But of course, it was far more than that- I have read and listened to Maynard’s sermons- they were and remain profound and incredibly helpful proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ...
We can rejoice in Maynard’s service to the wider community- to the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, the Downtown Y’s Men, and much more...
We can celebrate Maynard’s family- his devotion to his first wife, Cece, and his children. As best he could, he modeled what it meant to be a good dad with both his children-actively participating in their lives and activities. That spilled over into the lives of other children and youth... And I am told that later, Maynard and Kathy became a team for weddings and funerals- Maynard presiding, and Kathy sharing her beautiful voice...
We can celebrate the reunion of the family with Roger, as well. Roger was born with Down’s Syndrome, and in those days, children with Down’s were institutionalized... There was real heartache for Maynard- real loss...
But when Eline and Maynard were married, Eline encouraged Maynard to find Roger, and reconnect- not for a simple meeting, but for Roger to become a part of the family once again- to become part of their lives again. Maynard told me it was one of the most important things he ever did, and was so grateful to you, Eline, for the encouragement and support.
We can- I can- celebrate the love, encouragement and support that Maynard offered to other pastors... I was and am so grateful for Maynard’s friendship- I often received handwritten notes of encouragement; he insisted on buying when we went out to lunch when he visited...
We can all rejoice in the love he had for Bethlehem- for all the history of mission, for the incredible health (health already present when he arrived, he made sure I understood that... it’s not something pastors get to bestow, only to build on...) and for the wonderful people who were and ARE Bethlehem...
I’ve already gone longer than I normally do, and believe me, we could go on and on as we remember the life of this extraordinary man...
The biggest and by far the most important reason today is a day of celebration is because of Maynard’s Savior- and our Savior, Jesus the Christ, for if today is only about Maynard and our memories, well, memories fade, and then depart with us...
Maynard, and you and I are loved by the God who created the heavens and the earth. We have God who loves us so much; that in Jesus, the carpenter from Nazareth, God became a human being. Jesus shared everything that life brings – our joys and our sorrows both. We know that Jesus hated death – when his friend Lazareth died, Jesus cried. He preached in our Gospel reading, “Blessed are you who mourn for you will be comforted!”
In John 14, Jesus promised his disciples that he was going to prepare a place for them- so that where he was, they- and Maynard and you and I would be also. In his death on the cross, Jesus kept that promise. His love for us was so great that he was willing to die – face the same death Maynard has died – that we will all face ourselves one day – and in a marvelous mystery God raised him from the dead on the third day.
Jesus Christ is alive – and because he lives, we shall live also. Death is not the final word in our existence – because Jesus lives, we know, as Paul wrote, “nothing in life or death – nothing can separate us from God’s love in Jesus Christ!
That was the promise made to Maynard when he was baptized in Epping, North Dakota so long ago. That was the promise renewed each time he received Holy Communion. And that was the promise Maynard lived- as a husband, as a father, as a servant of Christ...
It is impossible to separate Maynard’s life- his love and service- from his response to the love of God freely offered in Christ Jesus. He was a living embodiment of our second reading- Paul writes: “How are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent?” Maynard was right there, saying, “Send me! Let me preach!” and he did!
To paraphrase Isaiah, he brought “good tidings,” he “published peace,” he “brought tidings of good,” and “proclaimed salvation, and the Good News that Our God Reigns...”
I marvel at the numbers of people touched by Maynard over the years- more than 2000 baptisms, 1700 confirmations, 1200 funerals (right ratios, too!), and we haven’t mentioned all the weddings- and when you consider the families and friends, you’re talking thousands and thousands of people!
But it wasn’t about numbers... Maynard had a way of making you feel like you were the only person in the room when you were surrounded by others. He wanted to know you... People flocked to Bethlehem during his tenure because the church was healthy- and it was led by a shepherd who cared for them- as people. And it was never about him- or his glory- it was for the sake of and to the glory of his Savior- and he meant it!
Was he perfect? Not even close! He would have laughed out loud at the suggestion. But he knew he was forgiven- a redeemed sinner made righteous through the life, death and resurrection of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He lived with Jesus in his life, and Jesus was there when he died – holding him – loving him – making him new, giving him the wonderful breath of new life as he welcomed Maynard into the fullness of his heavenly home.
That same Jesus is here with us today- grieving with us, and celebrating with us, too. He promises his strength, his support and his comfort to Eline and every member of Maynard’s family as you mourn. And he can and will give all of us the strength and desire to care for Maynard’s family- not just now when the pain is fresh- but in those coming days, when we have all gone on with our lives, but their grief continues.
Talk to them about Maynard- share stories (I have heard so many; there must be many more), either in person, or through email, or however you can communicate with them. Be the presence of Christ to them, as Maynard was to so many over the course of his life...
Maynard’s last sermon at Bethlehem (I know it was the last, because I invited him repeated over the years and was politely turned down each time...) was when Bethlehem was celebrating our centennial- it was in April of 1994. Maynard affectionately remembered the past- his tenure, the great saints with whom he had worked...
He spoke passionately about the Gospel, and the great need our world has for our living Lord Jesus Christ. And then he closed with his excitement and anticipation for Bethlehem’s future- for our place in continuing the mission of sharing Jesus with our cities, our nation and the world. And he finished with the words, “Soli Deo Gloria!” to God alone be the glory!”
That is how Maynard looked at his long life: with great affection for the past- for the people he loved, who loved him, for a life of work that made a difference in people’s lives... with passion for his relationship with Jesus- with the Living Christ and his Gospel... and with excitement and anticipation for what was waiting for him when his life, lived as best he could to the glory of God, came to an end...
Picture Maynard, made new, the Bible says, strong and whole, no more mourning, crying or pain, reunited with all those who have gone before, knowing fully now, as he was fully known, eager to take his place in the Church Triumphant, worshipping, and praying for those of us not yet there...
Hear our God welcome him with the wonderful words, “Well done, Good and Faithful Servant. Enter into the joy of your master!” And let us give thanks: Thanks be to God for the life of Maynard Iverson, servant of God, disciple of Christ! Soli Deo Gloria! Amen!
